Paul Vais Named New Chairman of California Trout (CalTrout) Board of Governors
CalTrout recently welcomed Paul Vais as the new Chairman of the CalTrout Board of Governors and thanked outgoing chair Drew Bassak for his invaluable years of stewardship through one of CalTrout’s most exciting periods of growth and expanded reach. Paul has served on numerous boards of private and public companies, and as co-chairman of Entrepreneurs’ Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to fostering corporate responsibility.
A member of the CalTrout board of Governors since 2015, Paul has served as the chair of the Advancement Committee and currently heads the Governance Committee.
Paul is the cofounder of Bailiwick Wines, a Sonoma based producer of award-winning limited production wines. His career began with 13 years in technical, marketing and general management roles with technology innovators Olivetti SpA, Apollo Computer and NeXT in Italy, the U.S., and France. Subsequently, he spent 13 years in venture capital, primarily as a Managing Director for global private equity firm Apax Partners based in Silicon Valley.
Paul is a graduate of the U.C. Berkeley where he studied Computer Science. He is married with three daughters and is a California native, avid outdoorsman, and aviator.
California Trout’s Board of Governors is a diverse group with one thing in common – a dedication to CalTrout’s mission.
The Board is involved in every aspect of CalTrout’s operation – from fundraising to strategic planning to conservation – and the organization is extremely lucky to enjoy the guidance and participation of this committed group.
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Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.